Pan Yikai, a youth with autism, works part-time at a bookstore in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on March 20, 2024 (XINHUA)
At the age of 5, Sun Chi was diagnosed with autism. From that moment, he and his family began a long journey of rehabilitation and intervention. His mother often reflects on the challenges they faced and how supportive the community in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, has been.
Over the years, they have received help from many caring individuals and organizations, making a great difference in their lives. As society's awareness of people with autism has grown, related policies have also improved, providing more resources and opportunities for families like theirs.
Now, at 23, Sun has made remarkable progress. He can discuss work with his colleagues, dine out on his own and even take bus trips on weekends. His journey is a testament to resilience and the power of community support.
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, is characterized by repetitive, restricted and inflexible patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as well as difficulties in social interaction and social communication. According to the 2023 report on persons with disabilities released by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the country has over 13 million individuals with autism, with an annual increase of nearly 200,000.
In 1982, China diagnosed its first case of autism, marking the beginning of a journey that has spanned 43 years. Over these decades, understanding of autism has gradually increased, and policies for people with autism have become more comprehensive.
However, as individuals with autism transition into adulthood and face middle age and beyond, new challenges arise. Key questions emerge: Can they find employment? Once their parents grow older, who will ensure their wellbeing and support their daily lives? These issues highlight the need for continued advocacy and resources to secure a stable future for adults with autism.
A working progress
Sun's first job experience came during his senior year of high school when he participated in a three-month internship at a car wash. His mother had a clear vision: The most important goals for children with autism are learning to live independently and obeying social rules, laying a foundation for their future. These skills, she believed, are far more valuable and practical than gaining admission to any prestigious university.
During his time at the car wash, Sun learned many essential social skills and workplace etiquette. While some people sympathized with his hard work, his mother never felt sorry for him. "If such a valuable opportunity for him to grow were to be taken away, that would be harmful. For him, working is a victory," she told local newspaper Nanfang Metropolis Daily.
Her decision proved to be the right one. Later, when she saw that Dami and Xiaomi, an organization that provides rehabilitation and support for children with developmental disorders, including autism, were recruiting capable individuals with autism, she encouraged Sun to apply. Initially, he would only handle administrative tasks, but he has since been promoted to a position in the headquarters, where he is involved in more and different undertakings, including video editing. This March was Sun's second anniversary at the organization.
Among those with autism, 50 percent are classified as having mild autism, with basically normal language and intellectual abilities. Additionally, 35 percent of children have classic autism, which is characterized by early delays in language and intelligence; however, with scientific intervention, they have a chance to improve and meet the criteria for mild autism.
Not all children with autism are like Sun who can enter the workforce as adults. Due to varying degrees of symptoms, some individuals with moderate to severe autism have to depend on care from their parents or others throughout their lives.
Xiao Qi, now 28, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. His case is particularly unique as he has regressive autism, meaning he continuously forgets skills he has previously learned. Between the ages of 18 and 24, the situation became especially precarious. His mother, Pan Xiufen, lived in constant distress, saying, "After finally teaching him to do laundry and manage some tasks, he suddenly forgets everything." Given these circumstances, it's very difficult for Xiao to find a suitable care institution.
For a long time, Pan could only keep Xiao by her side, taking care of his every need. As Xiao's condition gradually improved, she began looking for temporary care facilities. Over the past two years, she has occasionally taken her son to a rehabilitation service center in Shenzhen's Luohu District for "respite services."
These "respite services" allow parents to leave their children with autism at a care facility for a few hours to a day, giving them a much-needed break from the demanding responsibilities of caregiving and the opportunity to focus on their own needs.
Students with intellectual disabilities, including autism, from a special education school play with a bubble machine, accompanied by friends and family, in a park in Beibei District, Chongqing Municipality, on March 15, 2024 (XINHUA)
Doing more
The Blue Book on the Needs of Autism Families in China, published by Huaxia Publishing House in 2016, revealed that the employment rate for adults with autism in China was less than 10 percent at the time. Over half of the parents (55.5 percent) lacked confidence in their children's future employment opportunities, and 69.3 percent believed that employment training for older individuals with autism was not given adequate attention. Furthermore, 72.7 percent of parents were worried about their children's future after they were no longer around.
Today, this situation has changed. In October 2023, Shenzhen released the Implementation Plan for Comprehensive Support Services for Autism, which outlines a commitment to providing comprehensive support for individuals with autism in areas such as policy, rehabilitation, education, employment, family support and social integration. This includes initiatives to promote employment for people with autism, explore community-based care models, establish public rehabilitation centers, and create respite spaces in public areas to reduce the risk of emotional crises and the stress on family caregivers.
In July 2024, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, together with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the National Health Commission, the National Healthcare Security Administration, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the All-China Women's Federation, released the Implementation Plan for the Care and Development of Autistic Children (2024-28), drawing a grand blueprint for the future development of autistic children. This program focuses on improving the education quality, social security and medical security of children with autism, and fully guarantees their equal development rights.
In line with these evolving policies, more organizations and companies are beginning to focus on the autism community. Zhao Xin, manager at Dami and Xiaomi, noted that the organization had publicly recruited 10 employees with autism in 2023 and planned to hire more. It calls for the replication of this model across the country so that more individuals with autism can find meaningful employment and lead dignified lives.
Liao Juan, an associate professor at the School of Management at Capital Normal University in Beijing, highlighted two major trends and challenges in disability employment in China at a recent meeting on the employment of disabled persons. First, policies are becoming increasingly detailed and the focus of governments at different levels on proportionate employment for people with disabilities is growing. However, the corresponding service capabilities in society have not kept pace. Second, both state-owned and private enterprises are placing greater emphasis on social responsibility, yet some stereotypes about their abilities still need to shift.
Liao urged social organizations to actively develop tools to provide professional assessment services. She emphasized that businesses should match suitable positions to the abilities of individuals with disabilities, while those individuals should also work on enhancing their skills. Only through collaborative efforts from all sectors can we truly achieve inclusive employment for people with disabilities.
